XPics gets X'd Out

AVNonline has learned that XPics has suspended all advertising programs starting October 30, 1998. XPics is notifying all licensees that they will not be able to sign-up new members for XPics content starting Oct. 30, 1998. \n Problems with merchant billing seems to be behind this news. Many complaints about XPics subscribers not being able to cancel memberships have been flurrying throughout the Internet for weeks. We've heard countless times, that once you sign up, you are there for life. Usenet groups have bolstered many complaints from unsuccessful unsubscribers of XPics. We understand that XPics has lost merchant status due to the amount of complaints that their billing processor has received from customers attempting to cancel memberships to no avail. \n XPics had just launched an advertisement campaign that was destined to do very well for them and are scrambling to remedy their merchant status prior to October 30th. XPics contacted their clients via email with the regretful news, stating that they were not informed why these actions against XPics were taken. (Couldn't they guess??) The note to customers furthered to state that the dilemma may not be able to be solved anytime soon and recommended removing all ads and links to XPics XPics also assured all clients that all monies owed to advertisers would be forthcoming soon. \n This is not the first time an online firm has lost merchant status for billing troubles. IA2000 / AVNonline reported early September about troubles and how American Express had to set the record straight after rumors that they had cut off merchant status to all adult oriented businesses had flurried throughout the Adult Industry & Internet. American Express denied the rumors that a new corporate policy had caused the termination of all adult businesses and confirmed that in fact the action was taken against one unnamed firm. The unnamed firm had started the rumor flurry trying to divert attention or bad press. \n Webmasters and Content Providers take notice. Your business is not above consumer laws and good practices. If you abuse your consumers, you may find you have no consumers, or ways to take their money!!